Objective

To assess the validity of extrapolation from sentinel data by comparing the HIV-1 prevalence of various sentinel groups with that of the general population in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Methods

In a population survey, 4161 individuals were selected in a stratified random cluster sample.

Sentinel groups (all in the age group 15-54 years) included blood donors (n=1090); patients examined at district hospitals for the presence of malaria parasites (n=1488), anaemia (n=1339), or syphilis (n=33); and antenatal clinic attenders (n=1193).

The HIV-1 serostatus of individuals selected from the population survey was tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot; 51% of the blood donors were tested using HIVCHEK, and all others using ELISA.